During this class you will learn how to improve your project planning methodology and project task scheduling to get the most out of your critical IT resources. We will utilize project case studies that highlight information technology services as deliverables. MGT525 follows the basic project management structure from the PMBOK® Guide 4th edition and also provides specific techniques for success with information assurance initiatives.

Throughout the week, we will cover all aspects of IT project management - from initiating and planning projects through managing cost, time, and quality while your project is active, to completing, closing, and documenting as your project finishes.

Overview

Updated course contents to help you prepare for the current PMP® Exam. The SANS MGT525: IT Project Management, Effective Communication, and PMP® Exam Prep course is a PMI Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.). R.E.P.s provide the training necessary to earn and maintain the Project Management Professional (PMP)® and other professional credentials. This course has been recently updated to fully prepare you for the current PMP® exam changes. During this class you will learn how to improve your project planning methodology and project task sched-uling to get the most out of your critical IT resources. We will utilize project case studies that highlight information technology services as deliverables. MGT525 follows the basic project management structure from the PMBOK® Guide 4th edition and also provides specific techniques for success with information assurance initiatives. Throughout the week, we will cover all aspects of IT project management - from initiating and planning projects through managing cost, time, and quality while your project is active, to completing, closing, and documenting as your project finishes. A copy of the PMBOK® Guide (Fourth Edition) is provided to all participants. You can reference the PMBOK® Guide and use your course material along with the knowledge you gain in class to prepare for the current Project Management Professional (PMP)® Exam and the GIAC Certified Project Manager Exam.

The project management process is broken down into core process groups that can be applied across multiple areas of any project, in any industry. Although our primary focus is the application to the InfoSec industry, our approach is transferable to any projects that create and maintain services as well as general product development. We cover in-depth how cost, time, quality, and risks affect the services we provide to others. We will also address practical human resource management as well as effective communication and conflict resolution. You will learn specific tools to bridge the communications gap between managers and technical staff.

External Product Notice:

PMP® exams are not hosted by SANS. You will need to make separate arrangements to take the PMP® exam.

Notice:

Do you have the knowledge and tools you need to become a top-notch IT project manager and improve the success rate of your organization's IT projects? Do you need to improve your technical communication skills, risk analysis, and continuous monitoring processes?

Course Syllabus

MGT525.1: Project Management Structure and Framework

Overview

This course offers insight and specific techniques that both beginner and experienced project managers can utilize. The structure and framework section lays out the basic architecture and organization of project management. We will cover the common project management group processes, the difference between projects and operations, project life cycles and managing project stakeholders.

CPE/CMU Credits: 6

Topics

Sample Topics:

Definition of Terms and Process Concepts

Group Processes

Project Life Cycle

Types of Organizations

PDCA Cycle

MGT525.2: Project Charter and Scope Management

Overview

During day two, we cover project charter and scope management. We will go over techniques used to develop the project charter and formally initiate a project. The Scope portion defines the important input parameters of project management and gives you the tools to ensure that from the onset your project is well defined. We cover tools and techniques that will help you define your project's deliverables and develop milestones to gauge performance and manage change requests.

CPE/CMU Credits: 6

Topics

Sample Topics:

Formally Initiating Projects

Project Charters

Project Scope Development

Work Breakdown Structures

Scope Verification and Control

MGT525.3: Time and Cost Management

Overview

Our third day details the time and cost aspects of managing a project. We will cover the importance of correctly defining project activities, project activity sequence and resource constraints. We will use milestones to set project timelines and task dependencies along with learning methods of resource allocation and scheduling. We introduce the difference between resource and product related costs and go into detail on estimating, budgeting and controlling costs. You will learn techniques for estimating project cost and rates as well as budgeting and the process for developing a project cost baseline.

CPE/CMU Credits: 6

Topics

Sample Topics:

Process Flow

Task Lead and Lag Dependencies

Resource Breakdown Structures

Task Duration Estimating

Critical Path Scheduling

Cost Estimating Tools

Cost vs. Quality

Cost Base Lining

Earned Value Analysis and Forecasting

MGT525.4: Communications and Human Resources

Overview

During day four, we move into human resource management and building effective communications skills. People are the most valuable asset of any project and we cover methods for identifying, acquiring, developing and managing your project team. Performance appraisal tools are offered as well as conflict management techniques. You will learn management methods to help keep people motivated and pro- vide great leadership. The effective communication portion of the day covers identifying and developing key interpersonal skills. We cover organizational communication, the different levels of communication as well as describing common communication barriers and tools to overcome these barriers.

CPE/CMU Credits: 6

Topics

Sample Topics:

Acquiring and Developing Your Project Team

Organizational Dependencies and Charts

Roles and Responsibilities

Team Building

Conflict Management

Interpersonal Communication Skills

Communication Models and Effective Listening

MGT525.5: Quality and Risk Management

Overview

Day five focuses on Quality and Risk. You will become familiar with quality planning, quality assurance and quality control methodologies as well as learning the cost of quality concept and its parameters. We define quality metrics and cover tools for establishing and benchmarking quality control programs. We go into quality assurance and auditing as well as using and understanding quality control charts. The Risk section goes over known vs. unknown risks and how to identify, assess and categorize risk. We use quantitative risk analysis and modeling techniques so that you can fully understand how specific risks affect your project. You will learn ways to plan for and mitigate risk by reducing your exposure as well as being able to take advantage of risks that could have a positive effect on your project.

CPE/CMU Credits: 6

Topics

Sample Topics:

Cost of Quality

Quality Metrics

Continual Process Improvement

Quality Baselines

Quality Control

Change Control

Risk Identification

Risk Assessment

Time and Cost Risks

Risk Probability and Impact Matrices

Risk Modeling and Response

MGT525.6: Procurement, Stakeholder Management and Project Integration

Overview

We close out the week with the procurement aspects of project management and then integrate all of the concepts presented thus far into a solid, broad reaching approach. We cover contract basics and different types of contracts, then the make vs. buy decision process. We go over ways to initiate strong request for quotations (RFQ) and develop evaluation criteria, then qualify and select the best partners for your project. The final session integrates everything we have learned by bringing all the topics together with the common process groups. Using detailed project management methodology we learn how to finalize the project management plan and then execute and monitor the progress of your project to ensure success.

CPE/CMU Credits: 6

Topics

Sample Topics:

Contract Types

Make vs. Buy Analysis

Vendor Weighting Systems

Contract Negotiations

Project Execution

Monitoring Your Projects Progress

Finalizing Deliverables

Forecasting and Integrated Change Control

Additional Information

What students are saying:

"If you do project management, this is the formal training you need. Jeff does a great job covering everything from A - Z ensuring everyone has a firm understanding." Belle Sandlin, US Army Space Command

"I've been managing multi-million dollar projects for years but always felt muddled as to the formal activities required. After the SANS MGT525 project management course, things have become clear at last." Matt Harvey, US DOJ

Who Should Attend

Security professionals who are interested in understanding the concepts of IT project management

Managers who want to understand the critical areas of making projects successful

Individuals working with time, cost, quality, and risk sensitive projects and applications

Anyone who would like to utilize effective communication techniques and proven methods to relate better to people

Anyone in a key or lead engineering/design position who works regularly with project management staff.

Individuals interested in preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP)® Exam

Previous attendees include:

Chief Security Officers

Chief Information Security Officers

Chief Information Officers

Chief Risk Officers

Information Assurance Officers

Program Managers

IT Directors

Engineers

Network Systems Analysts

IT Project Managers

Auditors

Government Program Managers

R&D Project Managers

Software and System Developers

IT Compliance Managers

Security Specialists

Security Architects

Security Operation Center Managers

Information Security Analysts

Systems Administrators

Incident Response Analysts

You Will Be Able To

Recognize the top failure mechanisms related to IT and infosec projects, so that your projects can avoid common pitfalls

Create a project charter which defines the project sponsor and stakeholder involvement

Author Statement

Managing projects to completion, with an alert eye on quality, cost, and time, is something most of us need to do on an ongoing basis. In this course, we break down project management into its fundamental components and galvanize your understanding of the key concepts with an emphasis on practical application and execution of service-based IT and InfoSec projects. Since project managers spend the vast majority of their time communicating with others, throughout the week we focus on traits and techniques that enable effective technical communication. As people are the most critical asset in the project management process, effective and thorough communication is essential. -Jeff Frisk